September 9, 2021

The Beauty of Bespoke Furniture Materials

The largest variable in our craft of bespoke furniture is the material itself. From solid timber to moisture-resistant MDF, wood veneers to laminated boards, each material has its own merit and beauty.

The material chosen can often change the look and function of a piece of furniture, and this is where handcrafted bespoke furniture can shine.

Beyond choosing the wood species, each craftsman will look at the grain, direction, pattern and colour, to enhance the final aesthetics of the bespoke furniture piece.

Solid Wood

Solid wood is undoubtedly the most elegant material. Some elements of bespoke furniture can only be made up in solid wood to achieve the end result due to the need for the item to be hardwearing.

If you have a smaller budget or would prefer less of this material option, solid wood can be used for accents against a matching veneer or painted MDF.

Solid wood is usually finished with oils, stains or lacquer and there are many options available.

Wood veneer

Wood veneer is a very thin layer of wood which is glued in large sheets to cover both sides of an MDF board. Often, it's very hard to distinguish between solid and veneer wood. Using veneers is undoubtedly more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than solid wood.

Wood veneers are finished in the same way as solid wood; with oils, stains or lacquer.

Medium-density-fibreboard (MDF)

MDF is a man-made (engineered product) made from wood fibres (usually from wood offcuts) that are bound with glue and moulded into sheets for the use in joinery. MDF is the most flexible option for joinery production where the product is spray painted.

MDF is also available in a moisture-resistant version which can be used for internal areas where there is a lot of moisture, such as bathrooms.

The Barbara Genda approach

During the design process of creating your bespoke furniture, our team combine their experience and talent to present you with options using the most suitable materials available. Ensuring the materials used for your commission are nothing less than exactly what you want.